Just got my machine this morning, did a few tests, mine HATES cotton, dropped stitches galore. Thank you for doing all these tests, you saved me a load of money on yarns that may not work so well. ❤
@@emilysmith2784 Bamboo is wonderful (I only know it from hand knitting, but its so soft!!) I bet it would work nicely on the Sentro, or I hope it will for you. 👍🏻
Oh, thank you. I'll definitely pick up some Drops Nepal, it sounds fabulous. I've been getting Yarn Bee because I live incredibly close to Hoby Loby. I tried making socks on my 22 needle Singer machines and no go. It kept dropping stitches, but I put it on my 48 Sentro today and it's looking lovely. I finished a shrug yesterday using Sugarwheel Cotton, and it is wonderful. I made a wool sweater out of CHLOE wool and viscose, and it's super soft and beautiful. I just started knitting and crocheting a couple of months ago, and you have helped me more than you could ever know. I'm glad that you are getting some payout from TH-cam. You will definitely always get my viewtime and likes ❤️
@@emilysmith2784 Yes on the Sentro. It worked perfectly, not a dropped stitch at all. I just looked up the Drops Nepal and the shipping to America is ridiculous :( hopefully I'll be able to find something else with a similar mix out here.
@@VondaInWonderland ha! I just did the same with sugar wheel cotton! But you have given me hope. I shall not abandon all cottons and I’ll grab some more to try 😊
For the fisherman's wool you can use a softer yarn to act as a liner inside of hats and arm/leg warmers, then sell them. Just so it doesn't go to waste. You can try some of the other yarns double and with the different tensions. I find that difficult yarns turn into great yarns with proper tension on my machines. The yarns that dropped a lot of stitches could probably be remedied with some weights or heavy clips to help pull the yarn down into place, or just slow down when cranking. It's slower than the better yarns, but still faster than hand knitting. As for the fuzzy alpaca focusing the fluff to the inside... I have the same problem with non-wool furry and textured yarns. It's great when a ball has a lot of connection knots (and I'm too lazy to cut them out), but sticking to smoother yarn is better so you don't feel like you're wasting that beautiful halo from your alpacas and merinos. Hope this helps.
I found " Yarnart silky royal" - rayon and wool blend worked well. This got me thinking about rayon being a good yarn to try for Summer yarns Yarn art is a Turkish manufactured brand.
Thanks for this study on the behaviour of these yarns. Very useful, you have helped me a lot. I love wool in my yarn and, yes, the Alpaca would make it much softer. However I must point out that the gauge suggested on the ball band is for a washed and blocked sample. Wool, unless it has been treated, will shrink a little and bloom so maybe your tensions may have been better than they appeared. It is lovely to come across your video as all the ones I have seen up until now have been tests on yarns we can't get here in UK. Thinking about cotton there have been many saying it does not knit well on the Sentro machine but really does well on an Addi. I have an Addi. Also, to me, turning the handle (I hate the word 'cranking'!) seems to be very fast. Watching makes my arm ache!! Cotton has no elasticity so would not cope well with the machine being driven at such a lick! Mind you, maybe some but not all have sped up the video to save time but I have seen them turned so fast the poor little machine does not have time to react! I have so many cones of yarn which I use for weaving so may try these as I don't do as much weaving now. I can't get down on the floor to tie up the treadles now so my floor loom is sitting there looking very lonely and unloved! I knit (hand) sew and crochet mainly now.
Ahhh, good to know about washing blooming the woollen yarns. Makes sense now I think about it! I cant recall if I sped up the footage but odds are I did. I do speed up the footage in most videos as I do love a good time-lapse. I try not to spin the machine too fast, I like to watch and make sure every stitch is done properly and catch any errors, although for the experiment in this video i didn't fix anything, just to try and highlight how much effort would be involved in each yarn. I don't know how people use those drill attachments to make the machines go 20 to the dozen. It would make me so nervous having it spin so fast.
Have you tried blocking or even just washing your wool yarn projects? I feel like that helps to soften the fabric somewhat. Also the manufacturer's recommended gauge is only a recommendation, and is based on using a specific size needle. You will probably never find a yarn that matches the recommendation, whether you are knitting by hand or by machine. Thank you so much for the video!
its nice to have an English voice and prices in pounds 😁. My new Sentro came with 4 balls of yarn which feel and smell like sheep's wool. one looks like chunky which all demos point to being a no-no. Do you have a video comparing standard weights (DK, aran, chunky e.g.) and also pure wool vs acrylics?
@@janhill2079 not a specific video on the different yarn weights. I tend to only use Aran. I have used DK in my summer top videos but the fabric it produces is a little sheer. I’ve used chunky and velvet yarns as well but my machine starts to make a funny noise after about 20 rows but they are great for hat brims to keep your ears nice and toastie. I used a chunky velvet yarn in my Santa hat video.
For any wool type yarn you need to wash them to tell the true feel of the yarn. Also, you will never get true gauge as specified on the label when done on a machine as there are too many issues with tension with machines.
I wonder if you held a fingering weight yarn alongside your choices, if that would give you a more dense fabric with better gauge? As for the fisherman’s knit yarn, it felts beautifully! Make some felted mittens or slippers? Just a thought….
Thank you so much this video is very helpful! I literally just saw a video before yours. A lady used her technique to make it tighter, which is put a little bit weight on the tail when casting on (she used a clip). I don’t know if you knew this already or you have found a way to fixed it. If not hope it helps!
I usually just use the middle one as I put the yarn on the floor under my desk and I tension the yarn by hand, in a similar fashion to how the Addi machine works. I go as tight as I can while listening to the machine so I don’t break it 😊
I have found that loops and threads eco cotton can work, you just have to slow down and/or use weights of some sort to make sure the loops slip into place on the pegs.
I have found that some pins/needles have burrs of plastic on them. I lightly sanded them off and used the smallest tensioner hole and it knit up very nicely(cotton)
Can someone please post instructions on "Beyond beanies and blankets" I spent a fortune on a circular knitting machine, I really don't want endless beanies or scarves piling up. Help! Please, can someone do something exciting???
I have a video of 10 projects for beginners that are not beanies or blankets. I also have a few tutorials on making jumpers and cardigans. Check out my other videos. I think they will be what you are looking for 😊
I'm so excited to use wool on the Sento this has been a cold winter. Glad it works looks tight enough for my needs
Just got my machine this morning, did a few tests, mine HATES cotton, dropped stitches galore. Thank you for doing all these tests, you saved me a load of money on yarns that may not work so well. ❤
You’re welcome. I am still looking for that perfect yarn. I’m thinking of trying bamboo next, I’ve heard great things about its drape.
@@emilysmith2784 Bamboo is wonderful (I only know it from hand knitting, but its so soft!!) I bet it would work nicely on the Sentro, or I hope it will for you. 👍🏻
😊 Thank you. Very informative
Oh, thank you. I'll definitely pick up some Drops Nepal, it sounds fabulous. I've been getting Yarn Bee because I live incredibly close to Hoby Loby. I tried making socks on my 22 needle Singer machines and no go. It kept dropping stitches, but I put it on my 48 Sentro today and it's looking lovely. I finished a shrug yesterday using Sugarwheel Cotton, and it is wonderful. I made a wool sweater out of CHLOE wool and viscose, and it's super soft and beautiful. I just started knitting and crocheting a couple of months ago, and you have helped me more than you could ever know. I'm glad that you are getting some payout from TH-cam. You will definitely always get my viewtime and likes ❤️
That’s great news. Did you knit the shrug on the sentro? I sooo want to find a cotton yarn that will work!!
@@emilysmith2784 Yes on the Sentro. It worked perfectly, not a dropped stitch at all. I just looked up the Drops Nepal and the shipping to America is ridiculous :( hopefully I'll be able to find something else with a similar mix out here.
@@VondaInWonderland ha! I just did the same with sugar wheel cotton! But you have given me hope. I shall not abandon all cottons and I’ll grab some more to try 😊
I love wool! looks awesome! most people wear stuff under wool that is not itchy so the gauge is not such a big deal.
For the fisherman's wool you can use a softer yarn to act as a liner inside of hats and arm/leg warmers, then sell them. Just so it doesn't go to waste. You can try some of the other yarns double and with the different tensions. I find that difficult yarns turn into great yarns with proper tension on my machines. The yarns that dropped a lot of stitches could probably be remedied with some weights or heavy clips to help pull the yarn down into place, or just slow down when cranking. It's slower than the better yarns, but still faster than hand knitting. As for the fuzzy alpaca focusing the fluff to the inside... I have the same problem with non-wool furry and textured yarns. It's great when a ball has a lot of connection knots (and I'm too lazy to cut them out), but sticking to smoother yarn is better so you don't feel like you're wasting that beautiful halo from your alpacas and merinos.
Hope this helps.
Excellent suggestions. I wouldn’t have thought about lining hats with a softer yarn. Thanks 😊
Fisherman’s Wool felts beautifully. 😊
Good to know. How did you do it?
You helped me soooooo much with this video, thank you ❤
@@SeaHorseSense you’re welcome. I thought I’d found the perfect yarn but they discontinued it. So the search continues 😂
I found " Yarnart silky royal" - rayon and wool blend worked well.
This got me thinking about rayon being a good yarn to try for Summer yarns
Yarn art is a Turkish manufactured brand.
Oooh rayon and wool sounds like a great mix. I’ll check that out. Thank you
Thanks for this study on the behaviour of these yarns. Very useful, you have helped me a lot. I love wool in my yarn and, yes, the Alpaca would make it much softer. However I must point out that the gauge suggested on the ball band is for a washed and blocked sample. Wool, unless it has been treated, will shrink a little and bloom so maybe your tensions may have been better than they appeared. It is lovely to come across your video as all the ones I have seen up until now have been tests on yarns we can't get here in UK. Thinking about cotton there have been many saying it does not knit well on the Sentro machine but really does well on an Addi. I have an Addi. Also, to me, turning the handle (I hate the word 'cranking'!) seems to be very fast. Watching makes my arm ache!! Cotton has no elasticity so would not cope well with the machine being driven at such a lick! Mind you, maybe some but not all have sped up the video to save time but I have seen them turned so fast the poor little machine does not have time to react! I have so many cones of yarn which I use for weaving so may try these as I don't do as much weaving now. I can't get down on the floor to tie up the treadles now so my floor loom is sitting there looking very lonely and unloved! I knit (hand) sew and crochet mainly now.
Ahhh, good to know about washing blooming the woollen yarns. Makes sense now I think about it! I cant recall if I sped up the footage but odds are I did. I do speed up the footage in most videos as I do love a good time-lapse. I try not to spin the machine too fast, I like to watch and make sure every stitch is done properly and catch any errors, although for the experiment in this video i didn't fix anything, just to try and highlight how much effort would be involved in each yarn. I don't know how people use those drill attachments to make the machines go 20 to the dozen. It would make me so nervous having it spin so fast.
This video was SO useful! Thank you! 😊
Have you tried blocking or even just washing your wool yarn projects? I feel like that helps to soften the fabric somewhat.
Also the manufacturer's recommended gauge is only a recommendation, and is based on using a specific size needle. You will probably never find a yarn that matches the recommendation, whether you are knitting by hand or by machine.
Thank you so much for the video!
I was going to wash the swatches but was too lazy 😂 I am thinking of using the top 4 softest yarns to make an ombré type sweater then washing it.
its nice to have an English voice and prices in pounds 😁. My new Sentro came with 4 balls of yarn which feel and smell like sheep's wool. one looks like chunky which all demos point to being a no-no.
Do you have a video comparing standard weights (DK, aran, chunky e.g.) and also pure wool vs acrylics?
@@janhill2079 not a specific video on the different yarn weights. I tend to only use Aran. I have used DK in my summer top videos but the fabric it produces is a little sheer. I’ve used chunky and velvet yarns as well but my machine starts to make a funny noise after about 20 rows but they are great for hat brims to keep your ears nice and toastie. I used a chunky velvet yarn in my Santa hat video.
I must look that up. I'm doing Tunisian crochet whilst watching.
Where anouts in England are you?@@emilysmith2784
For any wool type yarn you need to wash them to tell the true feel of the yarn. Also, you will never get true gauge as specified on the label when done on a machine as there are too many issues with tension with machines.
I wonder if you held a fingering weight yarn alongside your choices, if that would give you a more dense fabric with better gauge? As for the fisherman’s knit yarn, it felts beautifully! Make some felted mittens or slippers? Just a thought….
Thank you so much this video is very helpful! I literally just saw a video before yours. A lady used her technique to make it tighter, which is put a little bit weight on the tail when casting on (she used a clip). I don’t know if you knew this already or you have found a way to fixed it. If not hope it helps!
th-cam.com/video/dO4TNvvcC4o/w-d-xo.html this is the video
Maybe for cotton you could oil the yarn and then wash it with dish soap after
Very informative, thank you! ❣️🌹
Really interesting video , thank you 🙏
I'm curious as to which slot you used on the tensioner & if a tighter tension would work on some of these yarns.
I usually just use the middle one as I put the yarn on the floor under my desk and I tension the yarn by hand, in a similar fashion to how the Addi machine works. I go as tight as I can while listening to the machine so I don’t break it 😊
@@emilysmith2784 thank you. I'm just getting started with my Sentro. I'll try that.
🤔 i have lots of milk cotton (literally more acrylic)..some skeins are soft on the sentro, some makes the sentro sound like its close to dying ahahaha
Haha
Can I use mohair on the machine?
I imagine so. I’ve never tried.
Thank you. Big help!
So the plant-based yarn (cotton/linen )can’t be used on the Sentro?
Not in my experience. Linen was a definite no. I have heard others have success with cotton. Maybe I just go too fast 😂
this is so helpful thanks emily
Hi! Where did you buy your knitting machine?
Amazon 😊
I'm so disappointed that cotton doesn't work on the knitting machines. It's my favourite fibre.
At least you can still use it in hand knit projects. I was hoping the linen would work as I wear mostly cotton and linen in the summer. Oh well 😂
I have found that loops and threads eco cotton can work, you just have to slow down and/or use weights of some sort to make sure the loops slip into place on the pegs.
I have found that some pins/needles have burrs of plastic on them. I lightly sanded them off and used the smallest tensioner hole and it knit up very nicely(cotton)
Can someone please post instructions on "Beyond beanies and blankets"
I spent a fortune on a circular knitting machine, I really don't want endless beanies or scarves piling up. Help! Please, can someone do something exciting???
I have a video of 10 projects for beginners that are not beanies or blankets. I also have a few tutorials on making jumpers and cardigans. Check out my other videos. I think they will be what you are looking for 😊
@@emilysmith2784
Oooh.
thank you!
Thank You !!
THANK YOU!!!
@ParkAvenue34 crafty girl on you tube has great patterns.
@@tianamarie989
Thank you so much. I'll check it out right now. Thank you, again!!
promo sm